TLDR
- Chile’s tax authority (SII) created a mechanism requiring foreign online betting platforms to register and pay taxes, even though they operate illegally in Chile.
- The Supreme Court of Chile has ruled these platforms lack legal permission to operate.
- SII director Jorge Trujillo argues tax collection does not equal endorsement of illegal activity.
- Senators and lawmakers say the policy effectively legitimizes illegal gambling operations.
- The Senate’s Economy Committee will hold further meetings and hear from additional authorities.
Chile’s Internal Revenue Service (SII) is at the center of a growing legal debate after ordering foreign online betting platforms to register and pay taxes, despite those platforms being ruled illegal by the country’s Supreme Court.
SII director Jorge Trujillo defended the move before the Senate’s Economy Committee on June 12, 2026. He said the agency’s goal is simply to collect taxes owed, not to approve or legitimize the activity.
“Online betting companies are a clear activity that has attracted the attention of the SII,” Trujillo said. “We verified that these operations are taking place and we have created a specific mechanism for collecting taxes.”
The resolution in question is Resolution No. 69. It allows foreign betting platforms to meet their tax obligations under Chilean law, even while operating without legal authorization.
Trujillo’s position is straightforward: if a company is earning money from Chilean citizens, it owes taxes to the Chilean state, regardless of the legal status of the underlying activity.
Lawmakers Push Back Hard
Not everyone agrees with that reasoning. Senator Gastón Saavedra, who chairs the Economy Committee, invited Trujillo to explain the decision and its potential consequences for regulation.
Saavedra argues the policy sends a confusing message. “We consider this as a legalization of an activity that is illegal,” he said.
Congressman Diego Ibáñez went further, comparing the SII’s approach to collecting taxes from street food vendors operating illegally, illegal dog racing, drug trafficking, and contract killings.
“Unfortunately, SII in this way is de facto legitimizing an illegal activity that was decided to be illegal in a supreme court ruling,” Ibáñez said.
Representatives from Chile’s lower house have also criticized the policy, adding pressure on the government to clarify its position.
What Happens Next
The Senate’s Economy Committee plans additional meetings on the issue. The Superintendence of Gaming Casinos has been invited to share its views, and the committee will also review the Supreme Court’s position in detail.
No special legislation currently governs foreign online betting platforms in Chile. That legal gap is at the heart of the dispute.
The SII maintains it will continue collecting taxes. But lawmakers appear determined to seek clearer rules and are unlikely to let the matter rest.
The debate raises questions about how governments handle industries that operate in legal grey areas, particularly when those industries generate taxable revenue from local users.
For now, the SII’s position stands. Further committee hearings are expected in the coming weeks as Chile works toward a resolution on online betting regulation.
